Despite having over fifty years experience in using and programming computers, the post-card that I got today from the IRS was a shock. It also did not make clear to me what my options were. So I went to IRS.GOV and tried to find out. It spoke about e-file. Does this require buying tax software? If so, does this software handle things like Form 2555 (foreign income exclusion), foreign tax credit, and the like? It says that you can used free-file if your adjusted gross income is under $57,000, but how can you know that until you fill out Schedules D, C, F, 2555 and who knows what else? It also spoke about Free File Fillable forms. From what I was able to gather that is similar to filling out each form from a downloaded copy, but the IRS keeps the forms itself as you fill them out. Is that so? What about the various worksheets in the 1040 booklet, such as the Foreign Earnled Income Tax worksheet? I have also been filling out the tax forms for my kids. Can I continue to do that with several different accounts simultaneously? I have been either using the printed forms, downloading the forms, or filling in and printing the forms. But I give his completed return to each kid to check over and sign. How would I manage something similar?
- posted
13 years ago